







In English we use the present simple tense to talk about facts or things that are always true, as well as things in general. Present simple is also used to talk about a repeated action such as a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.
In English we use 'do' and 'does' as auxiliary verbs in negatives and questions and we often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency such as sometimes, always, often, never, usually, rarely, and hardly ever.
Notes for use of present simple :
In the third person, ‘s’ is added to the verb form. For example;
work --> works
run --> runs
live --> lives
For verbs that end in 'o', 'sh', 'ch', 's' and 'x', we add 'es' to the verb form. For example;
go --> goes
wish --> wishes
watch --> watches
kiss --> kisses
fax --> faxes
For verbs that end in a consonant + 'y', we change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'. For example;
try --> tries
study --> studies
The table below shows the different forms of present simple :
Example Verb : Work | I / You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | ... work. | ... works. |
| Negative | ... don't work. | ... doesn't work. |
Questions | Do ... work? | Does ... work? |
| Short answers | Yes, ... do. / No, ... don't. | Yes, ... does. / No, ... doesn't. |
For the verb 'to be' we use 'am', 'is', 'are' in the present simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.
Verb: Be | I | You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | I'm ... | ... 're ... | ... 's ... |
| Negative | I'm not ... | ... aren't ... | ... isn't ... |
| Questions | Am I ... ? | Are ... ...? | Is ... ...? |
| Short answers | Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. | Yes, ... are. / No, ... aren't. | Yes, ... is. / No, ... isn't. |
Present Simple Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Present Simple :
Negative Examples of Present Simple :
Question Examples of Present Simple :
| Present simple example sentences | |
|---|---|
| Hm, it's comes to roughly £150 a week, it's about the same. | |
| And these days, I go to that pub quite often. | |
| Do you want me to call them? | |
| Exactly, one of them is asking for 3,500, the other one is 3,000... | |
| Do you know the pub around the corner? | |
| That's good, seeing three houses in one day is not bad. | |
| Congratulations, I wish you luck. | |
| I like the seafood restaurants there. | |
| Don't worry, I don't like having a very heavy breakfast. | |
| No, this one is the shop's own brand, that's why it's not expensive. | |
| Then I want to roast it, though. | |
| Everything is the same as it's advertised. | |
| So 2017 minus 1841 equals... | |
| Are there any fries or any kind of snacks? | |
| It's Marvin Gaye, from the 60's, but this is the remix. | |
| Exactly, so do you think snails are bugs or not? | |
| Yes, it was quite easy, actually, I live very close by. | |
| Yes, it's in Piccadilly Circus right in the centre. | |
| I can't imagine myself being on a plane for that long! | |
| How are things going, is everything ok? | |